18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In our reading, the author of Ecclesiastes is presenting a sad, or depressing, picture of life. If there isn’t a meaning to life, then why are we working so hard? We are lucky because we do have a meaning in life. We are trying to live like Jesus so we are able to have eternal life in Heaven. When we work for God, we are happier.
In our Gospel, a man wanted Jesus to tell his brother to give him half of what belonged to their father before he died. Jesus did not want to settle their argument. He told the people not to be selfish and greedy. Having a lot of money or things won’t get you to heaven. He told the parable of the rich man who produced so much food on his farm that he had to tear down his barns and build bigger barns to store everything so he will have more than enough for many years. God called the man foolish because he will die and these things won’t be saved for him.
Special Saint/Feast Day – St. Alphonsus Liguori – August 1
Alphonsus was born in Italy in 1696. He received his degree in law at 16 years and became a successful lawyer. After losing an important case because of a mistake he made, Alphonsus decided to leave his practice to follow his true calling to become a priest.
He was ordained in 1726 at 30 years old. He preached and wrote 60 books. He started a religious congregation called the Redemptorists. Father Alphonsus gave wise spiritual direction and brought peace to people through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He also wrote hymns, played the organ, and painted pictures.
Father Alphonsus was often sick and had many headaches. He would hold something cold against his forehead to keep doing his work.
The pope knew Alphonsus would help the church greatly so he appointed him bishop of St. Agatha of the Goths. Bishop Alphonsus instructed his priests to preach simple sermons so that everyone in the church could understand.
Bishop Alphonsus suffered from illnesses, became crippled, grew deaf and almost blind, and suffered from depression.
He had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother so his trials were followed by great peace and joy and a holy death. Alphonsus died in 1787 at 91 years.
We can increase our devotion to our Blessed Mother by reading about her, and especially by praying to her. Let us ask St. Alphonsus to help us love Mary as he did.